Recycled Wine Barrel Planter

June 6, 2011

I know this happens to you. You see something in a catalog or online and you think to yourself, “I bet I could make that for less money” or “I think I could pull off a similar version, but give it my own twist”. That’s just what happened when I spied the tiered recycled wine barrel planter in the Napa Style catalog for $299.

As I mentioned yesterday, wine barrels are readily accessible where I’m from, and we can find them for as little as $20 a half barrel. (If you’re local, make a stop at Mission ACE on Highway 12, they’ll hook you up!)

After we scored a few half barrels last week from our favorite source, the mister and I decided to build our own rustic planter, and for much less than the Napa Style version. Like, $274 dollars less.

Napa Style barrel planter, $299.

CG barrel planter, $25.

Wine barrels make fantastic planters season after season, and this version is an interesting variation on the ordinary half barrel planter. It makes a great conversation piece too, people are bound to ask “Where did you find that?”

My design is different than the NS version which has 4 tiers and 6 planting areas. I reworked the raised triangles to create 6 tiers and 9 separate planting zones.

I planted a variety of succulents and perennials, but you know this planter would also be great for growing strawberries!

If you can get your hands on a local seller of used wine barrels near you (or order one online from the link below), these are the basic steps for recreating this unique wine barrel planter.

Step One: Divide the barrel into thirds with a measuring tape, then mark where you’ll cut the barrel to create the three main tiers. I used twine to help me visualize how the barrel would look split into three levels before I drew my markings on the side of the barrel.

Step Two: Measure the drop in the front tier where you’ll cut (12” down) and the second tier behind it (6” down) and mark areas to cut.

Step Three: Use a traditional blade on a jig saw to carefully cut through the wood staves.

For the metal band, you’ll need a special blade. I found this set of metal blades at my local True Value Hardware store for $2.39. Detach wood blade and attach metal blade for the sheet metal band cuts.

Before you cut, double check the stability of your metal band on your barrel, since band stability varies from barrel to barrel depending on where it’s created. The band on the barrel we used was stabilized by nails driven into the band every 6” during the fabrication (or cooperage) of the barrel, so even after the cuts were made, the metal band stayed intact.

Step Four: Once you’ve made your vertical cuts, measure the distance across the barrel (approx. 26”) and trim your wood to match the curvature of the barrel. Attach your ½” x 6” x 26” board with wood screws as shown.

Step Five: Drill drainage holes in the bottom, two for each of the main tiers. I forgot to take an actual pic, but you get the idea!

To create the six tiers, I used salvaged wood from these pallets sitting in my side yard which worked perfectly and they were free! The larger boards were used for the main tiers, and the smaller boards were used to form the triangle tiers.

Step Six: Once your main tiers are set (above), create the triangles with angled cuts on a compound miter saw.

Attach your triangles together with wood screws, them secure them to the main three tiers with additional screws to form the raised triangle tiers.

This planter is rustic and eclectic, and blends with the the style of our yard, plus it will make such a great conversation piece on our patio!

If you live near a winery, give them a call, or do some research and find out if and when barrels are for sale in your area. If you want to purchase a barrel online, I tracked down a source on Amazon. You can purchase a used Napa Valley wine barrel for $85 from Wine Barrel Creations* which will make two planters.

We’re lucky that we can get our hands on a half barrel for less than most folks, but if you do some research, or even purchase from the seller above, you can certainly create your own version of this rustic planter for your yard, and for much less than the Napa Style version, in just a few hours. Nice.

True Value Blog Squad legalese: “I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.”

89 Responses to “Recycled Wine Barrel Planter”

Love this! ‘Tis the season for rotating barrels and phasing out old ones, so call your local wineries and they’ll likely give you a whole barrel for free or even the same as you could buy a half barrel from the guys who sell them already cut!

Wow, Kate, this is another one of those DIYs where I like the self-made piece much better than the store bought one! I think your planter turned out nicer than the catalog one. Excellent job, and it is going to be a really gorgeous conversation piece in your yard!

I like your version so much better than the original one you used as inspiration!
Vinyards are popping up all over the country side where I live, there didn’t used to be any about 10 years ago and now there are several. So I might just be in luck and be able to score me some wine barrels too one day.
Thanks for the inspiration and the instructions!

Um…GORGEOUS. My local (awesome) new Raleys grocery store has a ton of wine barrels and I am having hubby ON that planter this weekend. He has been wanting wine barrels for our yard for ages! Thanks for the great tutorial.

OH MY I love this!! You did such an amazing job and your tutorial is *marvelous*! I have wine barrel envy right about now. I just got a wooden wine crate to do a container garden and you have just inspired me to do more :-)

LOVE this! We found our half wine barrels for $25 in – oh, I think it was Atascadero? Near Paso Robles somewhere. We used six of them for a veggie garden (atrocious moles and gophers plus deer and poor quality decomposed granite soil made a traditional garden impossible). The remaining two are home to an olive tree and a garden hose! Wine barrels make the most fantastic planters. I love the extremely organic feel of your home made planter! Must try!

I must say that I just love your blog and your ideas are so creative. You are quite talented and I enjoy every post. Have been a reader for a few months, but never commented before. Figured it was time I said hello! Also, love the tips on painting furniture…. something I am hoping to delve more into on my own at home!

Woohoo girl; looks amazing! I like your version a ton better than the other and not just because it is way cheaper in cost. It’s far more rustic and looks like you have had it and it’s been a part of your garden forever.

You clever girl! This is just beautiful. . . and just the right price!

We’re big BBC fans, and my boys especially love Top Gear. One of the Top Gear’s stars, James May, has now made a couple of series of shows about wines–have you seen them? In the current series, he and his wine expert companion are traveling throughout California learning about CA wines. I think of you every time I see the show!

I swear – is there anything you CAN’T do!!?? I have been reading your blog for about six months now and I have never been so captivated in all of my life! I’m sure you hear this all the time, but you are just so incredibly talented. And I’m always so impressed at how quickly you post one amazing DIY project after another. Thank you! For such an amazing blog. I have been inspired again and again.

Call me cheap but I really like things practical. In the past, I used to buy things I like in Pottery Barn collections. Because most of them are expensive, I sometimes use up my savings. But since I got into DIY, I was able to save money.

Just last week, I found this stunning lamp decor and chandelier online. But they cost more than $500. What I did is research some DIY steps here in centsationalgirl and some decor sites. The result? I saved almost $300.

I love the wine barrel planter idea. However, my wife, Wendy, might be tempted to order the one from Napa Style simply because she is in love with Michael Chiarello. No joke, we ate at Bottega last year while he was working. The entire meal all she could do was stare at him :-) He took our check after the meal and I think she almost passed out.

We are very jealous of where you live, hopefully we will be able to own a place out that way, but until then we just need to bring a little of wine country inspired ideas home with us. So far we’ve built wine barrel stave candle holders (http://www.oldtownhome.com/2011/6/8/Let-There-Be-Light-Wine-Barrel-Turned-Candle-Holder/index.aspx) but this post and your previous post have inspired me to look into more complex construction. Might need to try a smaller version of a chandelier for our yet to be built wine bar area. We shall see :-) thanks for the inspiration!

Great job and excellent step by step instructions. You have changed the everyday wine barrel planter into a creative art project. To see some of the 30 different items I make from wine barrels visit my site http://www.winewoodcreations.com

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Hi, I'm Kate from Northern California. I'm a bargain hunter, design lover, and incurable DIYer. I'm on a quest for diamond style on a dime, and I'm out to make my world fabulous, for less, one do-it-yourself project at a time. Learn more.